Defending Champ Dado Is Out of NYC Marathon

An infection caused by a blister will keep the Ethiopian runner out of the November 4 race.

Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia, who was a surprise winner at the 2011 ING New York City Marathon in 2:23:15, has withdrawn from November 4's New York race. Her manager, Hussein Makke, reports that a "very nasty blister" on Dado's heel became severely infected and that "given the level of swelling on her ankle and the open nature of the blister itself, she has stopped training for some time now."

Dado came to the 2011 New York City Marathon after three Rome Marathon victories but she was a decided underdog to Kenya's Mary Keitany. But Keitany went out at a world record pace that proved to be self-defeating, while Dado and her countrywoman Buzunesh Deba ran together and caught Keitany at mile 24. Dado went on to defeat Deba, who resides in the Bronx, by 4 seconds.

Dado came back to the city in the spring for the NYC Half and passed New Zealand’s Kim Smith with 600 meters to go to win in 1:08:35. She later finished fourth at the 2012 Boston Marathon. Dado has not raced since placing fifth in the NYRR New York Mini 10K in June.